Budget computer I'm building. Also my first... will it be powerful enough for the new games?

[csdanielson]

My first post here at Anandtech!

Well, I'm building a computer for the first time. I don't have much money. I'm not legally old enough for a job yet, so making money is hard work. Anyway, heres what I'm planning:

Epox 8K3A+ mobo... $98.44
I was originally going to go with a $50 or so KG7RAID, but I thought this would be significantly faster. Is it? I really can't blow $50 for no reason at all. And I heard that the 8K3A+ has pretty tinny sound. I also thought about going with a KT333 Ultra Dragon, but I don't have enough money for that, so thats down the bucket.

Athlon XP 1900... $109.80
I'm definately using AMD. The Pentium 4s just cost too much. Anyway, this is the best processor I can afford. I was thinking of going with an XP 1800 for $20 less, but I decided this would probably be better.

256MB of PC2700 DDR (Samsung brand) RAM... $60
Samsung brand is good, right? I don't need the best RAM, just not crappy Generic stuff. I'm going to get another 256 or maybe even 512 at a later time.

GeForce 4 TI4200 64mb vid card... $137
Since this is a gaming PC, I'm going to need one mean mofukka video card. Geforce4 seems to be reasonably priced and its the most powerful out right now. I cant get the 4400 or 4600 because they cost too much.

Windows XP Prof. OS... (I got a spare one around... so free...)

It totals around $400. I'm planning to get another stick of 256MB DDR later, right now I just want to get it up and running. As for a CD drive, I'll be using the one I have in my junky 4 year old Pavilion. And I'm not exactly obsessed with sound quality, so the onboard sound stuff will keep me content for a good long time.

I'm planning for it to be a gaming system. I want good performance in games like Unreal Tournament 2003, Wolfenstein, and the new DOOM. As for DVD stuff, I'm not really interested in that. And I can use the floppy drive in my Pavilion.

Opinions, comments, or anything you think would be a good change?

 

[murphy55d]

yes that will be MORE than sufficient. Just make sure the Samsung memory is TRUE samsung memory, I'm sure someone here knows exactly how to tell the diff, but there is RAM that is Samsung chips on crappy PCB and then there is true samsung, Samsung chips on their own pcb.

If you aren't sure, order Crucial Corsair Mushkin or something like that.

 

[foofoo]

hi,
welcome to anandtech.
if you are going to be buying soon, i would reccoment that you look at an nforce mb as well.
my personal fave is the abit nv7-133r.
it has good audio, lan, usb2.0 all built in and it's really cheap now at newegg. ~$88
you could jump your processor for the difference in price and get good cl2 memory. i believe that pc2100cl2 = pc2700cl2.5, someone correct me if i'm wrong.
i know that the nforce2 chipset is imminent but i wouldnt buy the first boards for a computer that you dont want trouble with.
good luck

 

[MrGrim]

My suggestion is to stay away from VIA and wait until ATI announces one of its new products. It's safe to assume that videocard prices will fall.

 

[Nick5324]

your "budget" rig will out preform my main rig! have fun

 

[MrCodeDude]

Have fun Looks like a good rig.. My next rig will be when the Clawhammer comes out.. It's hammer time, huh huh, hammer time
-- mrcodedude

 

[wfbberzerker]

dont forget hard drive and sound card

 

[MrCodeDude]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
dont forget hard drive and sound card

He probably has those, but that will add probably another $100 to $150 onto the price if he needs new ones. If you need a lot of storage, there is an ad in the Fry's ad for an 120GB 5400RPM Seagate hard-drive for $99 no rebates or anything.
-- mrcodedude

 

[csdanielson]

I have a 16gig hard drive already... yeah, i know its small. but HP computers are so crappy! even though I got it back in late 1999, it was still very overpriced. $900 for this POS! it came with a celeron 500, 64mb RAM, a real crappy like 9mb built-in video card, and a real crappy built-in sound card.

i think ill get a larger hard drive some time later.

as for sound card... i thought the motherboard CAME with sound already built in, like my HP computer has. im not into high quality sound, and my speakers only cost me $15. so, if the built in sound is OKAY, i can take it.

 

[Insidious]

I think you should do the KG7 Raid and save the money. (see "My Rig Thingy)

WindowsXP supports the drivers for it and there is no need for Highpoint, Via or AMD driver installation beyond what XP will do for you.

I have two comps. here (both identical). your machine is better than these.............. and these blow fire out the vents (ie: they do great!)

Have fun with it!


PS: Welcome!

 

[ScrapSilicon]

lol...Insidious ..fire out the vents.. ...anyway I suggest sell the HP intact to someone for $200 to $300 and use the proceeds to go better,faster,bigger,etc. You can get a CDRW for about the price of a CDRom(check the HotDeals forum..) onboard sound would be ok but a dedicated sound card would be better (using a lil 6ch CMedia card got local for $12 or so..)..cannot say enough about you should have an adequate or better PSU (which that HP does not have..probably 145w or so..) memory (Samsung) choice is good but 256MB is a starting point and when you go for extra ...try to get a 512MB stick if possible..video card..GF4ti4200 about any flavor ..seems 64MB has better scores but in the long haul..(DOOM?) 128MB would be better..mobo...toss up just about any...if funds are tight..get a mobo with more onboard features(NIC,USB 2.0, etc.) rather than a faster processor(can always run a Duron 1.x until funds say XP2100+ .. and then sell the Duron..FS/FT forum)..
but ...that's just me...running cheez Skyhawk alum case,350w dual fan PSU, 16xDVDRom(Lite-on out of a Buslink rebox),32x12x48 CRDW( a CW058D Cyberdrive was in a PineTechnologies rebox at BestBuy..), 100GB WD 7.2k (not the 8mb one..got this one back in Dec. from SamsClub for $130 after rebate) ,floppy drive $8 from local comp show, the BioStar M7MIA/XP1700+ combo from TCWO , an old(not even 9 months old..) Radeon 64DDR ViVo, a USB 2.0 card, a cheapo $12 56k modem(lol...for testing..),and a single stick of Crucial pc2100 512MB got by ordering as an Asus mobo special

 

[billyjak]

I have a 1900xp on a Abit KR7A Raid board, I have plenty of power to play games and the new ones also on a GF3 right now.
Waiting for the reviews of the new Radeon to see if I will get a GF4 or Radeon.
You should be good to go for awhile. I have 2- 256k of pc 2700 Samsung True from Newegg, very good stuff.
You picked a very good motherboard also., I've built a few systems with that board.
Nothing wrong with Via boards if you install ther proper drivers, most problems are user related.
I have not had a problem with my Via KR7A Raid board since I bought it.

 

[Judgement]

I would get the cheaper processor and opt for a new hard drive.

The one in your old pc is probably 5400rpm, which will kill your performance.

You can also cut price by getting PC2100 ram, I don't think you will be overclocking your FSB much above 133, if at all with an AMD chip so that would be fine.

 

[csdanielson]

I'm planning on sticking with the same keyboard and mouse my HP came with (atleast for a while).
As for speakers, the ones I have are pretty good. And as for monitor I have a SyncMaster 753df. Flat screen, 19inch. Never had a problem with it.

So, if I'm selling the HP, its only going to be the computer itself. I don't think I'd fetch more then $150 tops for that. Especially when you consider its old, used, and has pretty crappy specs. Also, I really need a new computer. Even though I added another 64mb of RAM to my HP about 6 monthes ago, its been acting pretty fux0red lately. I'll be running ONLY Kazaa Lite and Internet Explorer 5 and it will crash.

It doesn't shut down or anything. It just becomes all glitchy and stuff. Like the Start menu won't open when I click it. And windows wont shut when I close the X. It'll start doing this after being on for about a half hour. Only way to fix it is to shut it down for about 10 minutes and then turn it back on. Its been acting fine up untill lately tho, so I think its just dying of age lol

Definately time for a new system.

 

[SpacemanSpiffVT]

hey dude, i just built a pc similar to yours
gf 4 ti4200 128mb,
xp 1800+
512mb crucial ddr 2100
epox 8k3a+ (btw, double check what revision you are getting on the board, if you care about the onboard sound v1.0 has only 2 channel)

i gotta say, this system smokes, i didnt have any trouble at all setting it up (first time for me also, building a pc)
my 3dmark scores are at 9000, which aint bad, i think my hard drive is slowing it down,
i had my ddr oc'ed to 2700 speeds, which is really easy on this board, and it was going good, but i turned it down just to be safe
and....

moh:aa runs amazing
morrowind runs pretty good (alotta fog for me though)
sof 2 looks good
dont have nvn or warcraft 3 yet...

 

[CrazySaint]

You might need to check if the HP case and PSU are propietary, in which case you'll have to buy a new one. newegg has a good and (relatively) cheap Enermax case w/350w PSU for about $60. Also check there refurb section might be able to pick up a cheap case there (I ordered an Antec PP660B for $77 shipped (saved $34).

And definitely check out the Abit NV7-133R, it runs for around $90 and it has RAID, USB 2.0, near audigy level sound, etc. Its based on the nForce 415-D chipset. Excellent board.

 

[csdanielson]

Okay, I just ordered the Abit NV7-133R mobo. Its cheaper, and comes with USB 2.0 and better sound. As for processor, I'm still sticking with either an Athlon XP 1800 or 1900. Still getting a 256mb Samsung memory, unless I see something of the same quality for cheaper. Geforce 4 TI 4200 video card still planned.

How powerful of a power supply should I get? I was thinking 300 watt... but would a 400 watt do me better? Remember, I don't have much $$$, so cost is one of my big concerns.

 

[CrazySaint]

300w should be fine, especially if its a quality one like an Antec or Enermax. Sparkle PSUs are good, as well. Antec True Power PSUs are probably the best out there right now, they're top quality and *very* quiet. They also have two fans, which is nice.

 

[TNTrulez]

Looks even better than my current computer.

 

[csdanielson]

I also just ordered the processor. Athlon 1800, 1.53ghz or something like that. I think its fast enough...

 

[csdanielson]

Hey, I'm a little worried about one thing though. Will the Geforce 4 be able to fit on the motherboard? The area where the DIMM goes looks like its in the way.